NEPTUNE is a clinical response to the emerging challenge of club drugs and novel psychoactive substances.
The project has responded to the current gap in knowledge for the clinical management of these substances by undertaking a review of the available research evidence to produce a comprehensive and evidence based reference document.
Phase Two of project NEPTUNE has translated the guidance document into accessible and easy to use online training. Open-access e-leaning modules are available on this site
The project was being independently evaluated by the College Centre for Quality Improvement.
NEPTUNE was funded by the Health Foundation, an independent charity working to improve the quality of health care in the UK. The 2022 update of the e-learning was funded and supported by EU-Action Against Drugs and Organised Crime (EU-Act).
It is hosted by Addictions Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and led by Professor Owen Bowden-Jones and Dr Dima Abdulrahim.
Textbook of the Clinical Management of Club Drugs and Novel Psychoactive Substances is an extensive and comprehensive reference aimed at clinicians and other practitioners across a range of clinical settings.
It provides detailed information and guidance on the acute and chronic harms of a range of club drugs and NPS and their management.
The guidance was developed out of a comprehensive review of the English language research evidence on the harms of a range of club drugs and NPS and their clinical management, based on systematic methods.
A critical appraisal of the literature reviewed was carried out, and which is the process of examining research systematically to judge the quality and validity of research, how generalizable its findings are, and its relevance in a particular context. Where research evidence was lacking, consensus was sought from the multi-disciplinary NEPTUNE expert advisory group.
In partnership with the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Project NEPTUNE has developed training modules that are accessible and easy to use for busy front-line clinicians and other practitioners. These e-learning modules are developed based on the principles used by the College to develop Continuous Professional Development (CPD). They include multi-media and interactive elements and are open access (free of charge).
The Neptune e-learning modules have been updated.
Please register with the College to access the modules.
Once registered you will find the 2022 modules on RCPsych’s new eLearning Hub.
If you are a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, you can log in using the same username and password with which you access the members’ area of the College website.
Any certificates generated before 6th June 2022 will not be available to download from the Neptune site.
Please contact elearning@rcpsych.ac.uk after this date if you need confirmation of completion of any NEPTUNE modules from before 6th June 2022 – we will be able to confirm completions in the last 2 years by email.
Independent evaluation
To ensure the quality of our outputs and their effective use at local levels, NEPTUNE training and tools was subject to an independent evaluation by the College Centre for Quality Improvement of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, who also published recommendations for implementers.
ATOMIC – A new mobile learning application
What is ATOMIC (ADDICTION TO MEDICATION- IMPROVING CARE)?
ATOMIC is a mobile-phone application, which provides training on the acute and chronic harms of non-medical prescription drug use.
ATOMIC works on all types of phones (IOS and Android) and is a web-based application. It is free of charge, after simple registration.
This mobile-learning application gives busy clinicians the flexibility to learn at any time and any place, on their mobile phones, tablets or other devices.
The App is best viewed on mobile devices and can be found at https://addiction-to-medication.org/atomic/.
WHAT DOES ATOMIC COVER?
ATOMIC is an evidence-based, mobile-learning application aimed at clinicians and other practitioners. It is a response to increasing public health concern regarding the harms of non-medical prescription drug use. Harmful patterns of use, including addiction to medication, are poorly understood and there is a gap in clinical knowledge and experience.
There are four modules in this app:
Module 1: Overview and background to the non-medical use of prescription drugs and addiction to medication.
Module 2: Non-medical use of benzodiazepines, including benzodiazepine-like novel psychoactive substances (NPS).
Module 3: Non-medical use of other prescription and over-the-counter medications with primarily depressant effects (Gabapentin, Tramadol, Codeine, ‘LEAN’).
Module 4: Non-medical use of prescription medications with stimulant effects (Modafinil, methylphenidate and other amphetamine-based medication).
ATOMIC is based on the principles of continuous professional development. You will be issued with a personalised certificate when you complete a module and achieve at least 80% in the post-module test (multiple choice questionnaire).
We hope you enjoy the training and find it useful.
The App is best viewed on mobile devices and can be found at https://addiction-to-medication.org/atomic/.
This section collates various resources to help improve clinical practice in the management of harms resulting from the use of club drugs and novel psychoactive substances.
This paper describes patterns of club drug use among LGBT populations, as reported in the literature. It examines the factors that may impact on the use of substances and discusses drug-related and other harms.
This paper looks at Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs), a large group of drugs which have a strong effect on the endocannabinoid system.
This paper looks at the misuse of synthetic opioids: harms and clinical management of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and other novel synthetic opioids – Information for clinicians.
Prof Owen Bowden-Jones
NEPTUNE Chair and Clinical lead
Consultant Psychiatrist and Lead Clinician for Club Drug Clinic
Addictions Directorate, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Honorary Senior Lecturer, Imperial College, London
Dr Dima Abdulrahim
NEPTUNE Programme manager and principal researcher
Addictions Directorate, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Expert advisory group
Prof Alex Baldacchino
Clinical Senior Lecturer in Addiction Psychiatry
Clinical Lead and Consultant in Addiction Psychiatry, NHS Fife
NHS Fife Research and Development Director.
Dr Seth Bhunnoo
Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Lead for W-CDAS (Wandsworth Community Drug and Alcohol Service), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Steve Brinksman
GP Ridgare medical Centres
Clinical Lead SMMGP [Substance Misuse Management Good Practice]
Ms Emma Crawshaw
Chief executive officer Crew 2000
Professor Paul Dargan
Consultant Physician and Clinical Toxicologist, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Professor of Clinical Toxicology, King’s College London
Dr Jonathan Dewhurst
Lead consultant psychiatrist
Discover, Drug & Alcohol Recovery Services
Specialist Services Network
Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Dominic Dougall
Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist and Associate Clinical Director
East London NHS Foundation Trust
Newham Centre for Mental Health
Mr Mike Flanagan
Consultant Nurse and Clinical Lead, Drug & Alcohol Services, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Chair National Substance Misuse Nonmedical Prescribing Forum
Dr Sarah Flowers
Consultant Addiction Psychiatrist, Pavilions Drug and Alcohol Service
Ms Caroline Frayne
Lead nurse; Safeguarding advisor
Addictions Directorate, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Mr Sanjay Kumar
Service User Involvement Consultant, CRI Brighton
Dr Luke Mitcheson
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Head of Addictions Psychology and Lead Psychologist for Lambeth Addictions South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Mr Monty Moncrieff
Chief Executive, London Friend
Prof David Nutt
Edmond J. Safra Chair of Neuropsychopharmacology
Division of Brain Sciences; Dept of Medicine, Imperial College London
Dr John Ramsey
Emeritus Director TICTAC Communications Ltd, St. George’s University of London
Dr John Roche
Consultant psychiatrist, Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Prof Fabrizio Schifano
Chair in Clinical Pharmacotherapy and Therapeutics
Consultant Psychiatrist, University of Hertfordshire, School of Medical Sciences
Mr Seb Silas
Dr Ann Sullivan
Consultant in Sexual Health/ HIV medicine, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Tim Williams
Consultant Addiction Psychiatrist, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Dr Fredrik Johansson
Consultant Psychiatrist, Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Christopher Whiteley
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Trust Deputy Head of Psychology: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Dr David Wood
Consultant Physician and Clinical Toxicologist
Service (clinical) Lead for Medicine Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
King’s Health Partners Honorary Senior Lecturer King’s College London
Dr Sarah Finley
Consultant in Emergency Medicine, St Mary’s Hospital
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Observers
Ms Megan Jones; Senior Programme Manager, Alcohol Drugs and Tobacco Division.
Mr John MacCracken; Drugs Programme Manager Department of Health
Ms Josie Smith; Head of Substance Misuse Programme; Public Health Wales
Ms Jenna Marsh; Drug Strategy Team Drugs and Alcohol Unit – Crime and Policing Group Home Office
Ms Karen Rofe; Drug Strategy Team Drugs and Alcohol Unit – Crime and Policing Group Home Office
For more information about NEPTUNE please contact:
- Dima Abdulrahim dima.abdulrahim@nhs.net
- Owen Bowden-Jones owen.bowdenjones@nhs.net
NEPTUNE (Novel Psychoactive Treatment UK Network)
Club Drug Clinic
69 Warwick Road
Earls Court
SW5 9HB
Tel: 020 3315 5800
Fax: 020 3315 5823